IS THERE A THIRD SON?

28"Tell me what you think of this story: A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, 'Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.' 29"The son answered, 'I don't want to.' Later on he thought better of it and went. 30"The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, 'Sure, glad to.' But he never went. 31-32"Which of the two sons did what the father asked?" They said, "The first." Jesus said, "Yes, and I tell you that crooks and whores are going to precede you into God's kingdom. John came to you showing you the right road. You turned up your noses at him, but the crooks and whores believed him. Even when you saw their changed lives, you didn't care enough to change and believe him.

I'm sharing this story from Matthew with you because Steve asked me if I wanted to write something while I've recently had some free time and this is what God had been challenging me lately with. As you can see, it's the parable of the two sons, who when asked by their father to go work for him for the day each responded the opposite way of their eventual outcome ironically enough.

Matthew Henry tells us that it speaks of the response to God of John's Baptism Ministry by the sinners and the religious Pharisees and Saducees. Everyone was suspicious at first, but the sinners did end up coming and receiving, whereas the religious people of the day spoke one thing, but did quite another by hardening their hearts toward God's mercy.

Oddly enough, God didn't give me that insight, seeing as how He'd already given it to Mr. Henry and all. I mean I did glean from it that we need to be careful as longtime Christians not to assume that we think we know everything already thereby missing what God is trying to say to us. Maybe we should spend some time around newbies and make sure we not getting hard-hearted and crusty. Maybe we need to go through a few verses of Keith Green's "My Eyes Are Dry"...and get our hearts softened up again?

But anyhoo, the point He was making to me was that maybe there was a third son. If not there should be. And that child, should be the one who says "Yes, I'll go." and then goes and does it. What could God do with a church filled with obedient children like that? Does that challenge you? I know it did me. If you need a song or verse to start you off here try this one: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Blessings,

Mom/Connie